Bahria School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (BSEAS)

Bahria University, H-11 Campus, Islamabad

Assignment 2 – Spring 2025

Computer
Course Title: Communication Course Code: CEN 223 Credit Hours: 3 (3,0)
s & Networks
Course Program
Haad Akmal BS RIS
Instructor: Name:
Semester: 4th Batch: 2023 Section: C
Number of
Submission Maximum
28-03-2025 5 Extra Sheets 6
Due Date: Marks:
Attached:
Student’s Enrollment
Rida Saman 01-139232-096
Name: Number:

Data Link Layer Concepts

Piggybacking is a technique employed in the Data Link Layer, particularly in full-duplex

communication systems, to enhance network efficiency. It involves embedding
acknowledgment (ACK) or negative acknowledgment (NAK) information within
the data frames being transmitted by the receiver. This eliminates the need to send separate
ACK/NAK frames, thereby reducing overhead and improving throughput.

Working Principle:
1. Data Transmission: The sending station transmits a data frame to the receiving station.
2. Acknowledgment Requirement: The receiving station, upon successfully receiving the
data frame, needs to acknowledge its receipt.
 3. Piggybacking: Instead of sending a standalone ACK frame, the receiver appends the
acknowledgment information (e.g., the sequence number of the received frame) to its
own data frame that it is transmitting back to the sender.
4. Combined Transmission: The receiver sends a data frame containing both its own data
and the acknowledgment of the received data.

Advantages:
1. Reduced Overhead: By combining data and acknowledgments, piggybacking minimizes
the number of control frames (ACK/NAK) transmitted, reducing network overhead.
2. Improved Efficiency: It optimizes bandwidth utilization, allowing more data to be
transmitted within a given time frame.
3. Enhanced Throughput: Reduced overhead translates to higher network throughput,
leading to faster data transfer rates.
4. Reduced Latency: Fewer control frames mean quicker acknowledgments, reducing
transmission delays.
Real-life Example:
 Telnet Sessions: In a Telnet session, a user types characters, and the server responds with
echoes and command outputs. Piggybacking can be used to acknowledge received
characters along with the server's responses, reducing the number of separate
acknowledgment packets.
 File Transfer Protocols (FTP): When transferring large files, acknowledgments of
received data blocks can be piggybacked onto subsequent data transmissions.
Limitations:
1. Delay in Acknowledgment: If the receiver has no data to send back, it must delay the
acknowledgment until it has data, which can introduce latency.
2. Complexity: Implementing piggybacking requires more complex protocols and error-
handling mechanisms.
3. Applicability: Piggybacking is most effective in full-duplex communication and may not
be suitable for simplex or half-duplex systems.
4. Buffer Requirements: The receiver must have sufficient buffer space to store incoming
data until it can be piggybacked.
5. Timeout Issues: If the receiver doesn't have data to send back within a certain time, the
sender might time out and retransmit, even if the original data was received.
References Links:
 https://www.google.com.pk/
 https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/piggybacking-in-computer-networks/
 https://www.ccbp.in/blog/articles/piggybacking-in-computer-networks
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_link_layer

CSMA CD vs CSMA CA

CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) and CSMA/CA
(Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance)1 are medium access control
protocols used in network communication. They differ in their approach to handling collisions
and are suited for different network environments.
CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection):
 Working Mechanism:

1. Carrier Sense: A station listens to the channel before transmitting.

2. Transmission: If the channel is idle, the station transmits data.
3. Collision Detection: If a collision occurs (two stations transmit simultaneously),
the stations detect the collision.
4. Jam Signal: All colliding stations send a jam signal to notify other stations of the
collision.
5. Random Backoff: Stations wait for a random backoff time before retransmitting

 Suitability:
o Primarily used in wired Ethernet networks (IEEE 802.3).
o Effective in environments where collisions can be easily detected, such as wired
networks.

CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance):

 Working Mechanism:

1. Carrier Sense: A station listens to the channel before transmitting.

2. RTS/CTS: If the channel is idle, the station sends a Request to Send (RTS)
frame. The receiver responds with a Clear to Send (CTS) frame.
3. Data Transmission: The station transmits its data after receiving the CTS frame.
4. Acknowledgment (ACK): The receiver sends an ACK frame to confirm
successful transmission.
5. Interframe Spacing (IFS): Uses IFS to reduce collisions by introducing delays
between transmissions.
 Suitability:
o Primarily used in wireless networks (IEEE 802.11).
o Effective in environments where collisions are difficult to detect, such as wireless
networks, due to the hidden node problem.
Key Differences:
Feature CSMA/CD CSMA/CA
Collision Handling Collision Detection Collision Avoidance
Medium Wired (Ethernet) Wireless (Wi-Fi)
Collision Impact High (requires retransmission) Lower (reduces collision
likelihood)
Method Listen, transmit, detect collisions, Listen, RTS/CTS, transmit, ACK
jam
Hidden Node Not applicable Addresses hidden node problem
Problem

Real-life Examples:
 CSMA/CD:
 o Ethernet LANs in office buildings, where wired connections allow for accurate
collision detection.
o Industrial control systems using wired Ethernet for reliable communication.

 CSMA/CA:
o Wi-Fi networks in homes, public hotspots, and offices, where wireless signals are
prone to interference and hidden node issues.
o Wireless sensor networks used in environmental monitoring.

References Links:
 https://www.google.com.pk/
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier-sense_multiple_access_with_collision_avoidanc
 https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pynetlabs.com
%2Fcsma-cd-vs-csma-ca
%2F&psig=AOvVaw2BRhwnchblXrdtODxS3va3&ust=1743263675237000&source=im
ages&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBcQjhxqFwoTCJDn7bGRrYwDFQAAAAAdAA
AAABAc
 https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/carrier-sense-multiple-access-csma/#:~:text=CSMA
%2FCD%20detects%20collisions%20and,used%20in%20Wi%2DFi%20networks.

Conclusion
Piggybacking is an effective technique for optimizing data transmission in bidirectional
communication by reducing frame overhead. However, it is not always applicable due to its
dependency on bidirectional data flow. Additionally, CSMA/CD and CSMA/CA serve different
network environments, with CSMA/CD being effective for wired Ethernet networks and
CSMA/CA being crucial for wireless networks. Understanding these mechanisms helps in
designing efficient communication systems and selecting the right protocol for specific
applications.